Is the movie secretariat a true story?
For the most part, but as per usual in Hollywood, some pertinent
facts were skewed or omitted. Examples:
In the movie, the success of Secretariat saves the Meadow Farms
horse breeding operation from financial ruin. In reality, the year
before, another Meadow Stable runner, Riva Ridge, won the Derby and
Belmont to save the farm. Secretariat won horse of the year two
years in a row, and the Triple Crown in 1973. But the movie does
not mention Riva at all.
Frank Martin is portrayed as a loud mouth braggart, when he was
in fact a nice fellow, but did back Sham to the max.
Lucien Laurin is portrayed as a screwball, wearing pimp clothes,
and a failed golfer. Laurin was in fact a conservative dresser, and
was an avid fisherman, never played one hole of golf.
There was no mention of Penny's sister, Mrs Carmichael, who was
very involved in getting the farm back on its feet.